EP0251986A2
Expired / Lapsed
EP
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Telephone line multiplication apparatus with improved ringing generator
Assignee: ECI Telecom Ltd
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Filing: 1987-07-02
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2007-07-02
Abstract
Abstract A telephone line multiplication apparatus for connecting a plurality of telephone subscribers to a telephone exchange over a single two-wire telephone line which may carry voice and/or digital data information and control signal information such as off-hook/on-hook, dialing, ringing, metering and the like, wherein voice and/or digital data information is communicated with a first one of the plurality of telephone subscribers in digital form, and voice information is communicated with a second one of the plurality of telephone subscribers in analog form, characterized in that the control signal information relating to the operation of the second subscriber is communicated in digital form. The interface between the analog and digital communications channels is effected by a line interface providing impedance matching with the line impedance, wherein the analog channel is coupled by a connection with a portion of the two-wire telephone line impedance across a series capacitor which provides a preliminary stage of low-pass filtering. An improved ringing generator is also provided for powering the subscriber loads based on remote power feeding from the telephone exchange.
Inventors
- 👤 Joshua Piasecki
- 👤 Israel Zohar
- 👤 Yeshayahu Zalitzky
- 👤 Pinchas Haviv
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-01 04:12
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04Q; H04Q5/00; H04Q5/02
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 36
Claim 1
Independent Claim
134 words
Telephone line multiplication apparatus comprising: means for connecting a plurality of telephone subscribers to a telephone exchange over a single two-wire telephone line which carries voice information and control signal information such as off-hook/on-hook, dialing, ringing, metering and the like, wherein said means for connecting comprises a subscriber side terminal and an exchange side terminal interconnected by said telephone line; first means for communicating voice information with at least one of the plurality of telephone subscribers in digital form; second means for communicating voice information with at least one of the plurality of telephone subscribers in analog form; and means for communicating said control signal information, wherein said control signal information communication means is characterized in that it communicates the control signal information relating to the operation of the second apparatus in digital form.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
134 words
Telephone line multiplication apparatus comprising: means for connecting a plurality of telephone subscribers to a telephone exchange over a single two-wire telephone line which carries voice information and control signal information such as off-hook/on-hook, dialing, ringing, metering and the like, wherein said means for connecting comprises a subscriber side terminal and an exchange side terminal interconnected by said telephone line; first means for communicating voice information with at least one of the plurality of telephone subscribers in digital form; second means for communicating voice information with at least one of the plurality of telephone subscribers in analog form; and means for communicating said control signal information, wherein said control signal information communication means is characterized in that it communicates the control signal information relating to the operation of the second apparatus in digital form.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
26 words
Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said subscriber side terminal receives power which is provided remotely from said exchange side terminal over said two-wire telephone line.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
17 words
Apparatus according to claim 1 or 2 wherein said plurality of telephone subscribers comprises three telephone subscribers.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
29 words
Apparatus according to claim 3 wherein said first means for communicating is operative to provide analog communication for two subscribers along with control signal information for all three subscribers.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
30 words
Apparatus according to claim 1 or 2 and also comprising speech compression apparatus associated with said first means for increasing the number of telephone subscribers communicating with said first means.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
59 words
Apparatus according to claim 1 or 2 wherein said subscriber side terminal includes: an analog-digital interface; means for coupling at least one first telephone subscriber to said analog-digital interface; digital modem apparatus for coupling said analog-digital interface to said two-wire telephone line; and analog transmission means for coupling at least one second telephone subscriber to said two-wire telephone line.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
79 words
Apparatus according to claim 6 wherein said digital modem apparatus and said analog transmission means are coupled to said two-wire telephone line through a line interface means for matching the impedance of said line, wherein said line interface means comprises at least two impedance elements which are connected serially, a first impedance element for coupling said digital modem apparatus and a second impedance element for coupling said analog transmission means across a portion of said two-wire telephone line impedance.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
17 words
Apparatus according to claim 7 wherein said first means is operative to communicate in differential biphase coding.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
63 words
Apparatus according to claim 1 or 2 wherein said exchange side terminal includes: an analog-digital interface; means for coupling at least one first telephone exchange subscriber interface to said analog-digital interface; digital modem apparatus for coupling said analog-digital interface to said two-wire telephone line; and analog transmission means for coupling at least one second telephone exchange subscriber interface to said two-wire telephone line.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
79 words
Apparatus according to claim 9 wherein said digital modem apparatus and said analog transmission means are coupled to said two-wire telephone line through a line interface means for matching the impedance of said line, wherein said line interface means comprises at least two impedance elements which are connected serially, a first impedance element for coupling said digital modem apparatus and a second impedance element for coupling said analog transmission means across a portion of said two-wire telephone line impedance.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
17 words
Apparatus according to claim 10 wherein said first means is operative to communicate in differential biphase coding.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
150 words
Apparatus according to claim 2 and further comprising an improved ringing generator apparatus wherein the power provided remotely from the exchange side terminal is fed as input power to said improved ringing generator apparatus for delivering power to the load presented by the plurality of telephone subscribers, said ringing generator apparatus comprising: means for storing energy; controller means operable to determine a duty cycle within which the input power is applied to said energy storage means for storing energy therein at a fixed level such that the input power utilized is constant; inverter means for generating AC ringing power to be delivered to the load; and means for transferring said stored energy to said inverter means such that said AC ringing power is generated at a level in accordance therewith, wherein said AC ringing power is delivered to the load at an output voltage determined by the load impedance characteristics.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
25 words
The apparatus of claim 12 wherein said energy storage means, duty cycle controller means and energy transfer means together comprise a constant energy flyback converter.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
15 words
The apparatus of claim 13 wherein an inductor is used as said energy storage means.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
38 words
The apparatus of claim 14 wherein the amount of input power applied to the inductor is fixed with a given duty cycle with the result that the energy stored in the inductor is limited to a constant value.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
36 words
The apparatus of claim 15 wherein said duty cycle controller means comprises a pulse-width modulated (PWM) current mode controller and a switching transistor together operable to provide a controllable input energy for storage in said inductor.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
30 words
The apparatus of claim 15 wherein said duty cycle controller means comprises a switching transistor and current sensor operable to provide a controllable input energy for storage in said inductor.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
29 words
The apparatus of claim 15 wherein a capacitor is used as said energy transfer means and receives the stored energy from said inductor for transfer to said inverter means.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
48 words
The apparatus of claim 18 wherein said inverter means comprises a pair of switching transistors driven by a pulse generator having a predetermined frequency, said switching transistors being arranged to reverse the polarity of said output voltage with which said AC ringing power is transferred to the load.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
60 words
The apparatus of claim 19 wherein a switching device is provided by which said AC ringing power is supplied in a time sharing fashion, with the ringing interval for each of said subscribers being staggered and non-simultaneous with the ringing interval of other subscribers, such that the load for each subscriber is alternately switched to receive said AC ringing power.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
64 words
The apparatus of claim 20 wherein said switching device provides a recovery time period between the end of a ringing interval on one load and the start of the next ringing interval on the next load, said recovery time period allowing the ringing generator to develop the AC ringing power with the highest output voltage possible for the beginning of the next ringing interval.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
140 words
In a telephone line multiplication apparatus according to claim 2 and further comprising ringing generator apparatus, a method of operating said ringing generator apparatus wherein the power provided remotely from the exchange side terminal is fed as input power to said improved ringing generator apparatus for delivering power to the load presented by the plurality of telephone subscribers, said method comprising the steps of: providing a means for storing energy; determining a duty cycle within which the input power is applied to said energy storage means for storing energy therein at a fixed level such that the input power utilized is constant; and generating AC ringing power in accordance with said stored energy level to be delivered to the load, wherein said AC ringing power is delivered to the load at an output voltage determined by the load impedance characteristics.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
137 words
Telephone multiplication apparatus comprising: means for connecting a plurality of telephone subscribers to a telephone exchange over a single two-wire telephone line which carries voice and digital data information and control signal information such as off-hook/on-hook, dialing, ringing, metering and the like, wherein said means for connecting comprises a subscriber side terminal and an exchange side terminal interconnected by said telephone line; first means for communicating digital data information with at least one of the plurality of telephone subscribers in digital form; second means for communicating voice information with at least one of the plurality of telephone subscribers in analog form; and means for communicating said control signal information, wherein said control signal information communication means is characterized in that it communicates the control signal information relating to the operation of the second apparatus in digital form.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
137 words
Telephone multiplication apparatus comprising: means for connecting a plurality of telephone subscribers to a telephone exchange over a single two-wire telephone line which carries voice and digital data information and control signal information such as off-hook/on-hook, dialing, ringing, metering and the like, wherein said means for connecting comprises a subscriber side terminal and an exchange side terminal interconnected by said telephone line; first means for communicating digital data information with at least one of the plurality of telephone subscribers in digital form; second means for communicating voice information with at least one of the plurality of telephone subscribers in analog form; and means for communicating said control signal information, wherein said control signal information communication means is characterized in that it communicates the control signal information relating to the operation of the second apparatus in digital form.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
60 words
Apparatus according to claim 23 wherein said subscriber side terminal includes: a digital data interface; means for coupling at least one first telephone subscriber to said digital data interface; digital modem apparatus for coupling said digital data interface to said two-wire telephone line; and analog transmission means for coupling at least one second telephone subscriber to said two-wire telephone line.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
79 words
Apparatus according to claim 24 wherein said digital modem apparatus and said analog transmission means are coupled to said two-wire telephone line through a line interface means for matching the impedance of said line, wherein said line interface means comprises at least two impedance elements which are connected serially, a first impedance element for coupling said digital modem apparatus and a second impedance element for coupling said analog transmission means across a portion of said two-wire telephone line impedance.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
64 words
Apparatus according to claim 23 wherein said exchange side terminal includes: a digital data interface; means for coupling at least one first telephone exchange subscriber interface to said digital data interface; digital modem apparatus for coupling said digital data interface to said two-wire telephone line; and analog transmission means for coupling at least one second telephone exchange subscriber interface to said two-wire telephone line.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
79 words
Apparatus according to claim 26 wherein said digital modem apparatus and said analog transmission means are coupled to said two-wire telephone line through a line interface means for matching the impedance of said line, wherein said line interface means comprises at least two impedance elements which are connected serially, a first impedance element for coupling said digital modem apparatus and a second impedance element for coupling said analog transmission means across a portion of said two-wire telephone line impedance.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
140 words
Telephone line multiplication apparatus comprising: means for connecting a plurality of telephone subscribers to a telephone exchange over a single two-wire telephone line which carries voice and digital data information and control signal information such as off-hook/on-hook, dialing, ringing, metering and the like, wherein said means for connecting comprises a subscriber side terminal and an exchange side terminal interconnected by said telephone line; first means for communicating voice and digital data information with at least one of the plurality of telephone subscribers in digital form; second means for communicating voice information with at least one of the plurality of telephone subscribers in analog form; and means for communicating said control signal information, wherein said control signal information communication means is characterized in that it communicates the control signal information relating to the operation of the second apparatus in digital form.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
140 words
Telephone line multiplication apparatus comprising: means for connecting a plurality of telephone subscribers to a telephone exchange over a single two-wire telephone line which carries voice and digital data information and control signal information such as off-hook/on-hook, dialing, ringing, metering and the like, wherein said means for connecting comprises a subscriber side terminal and an exchange side terminal interconnected by said telephone line; first means for communicating voice and digital data information with at least one of the plurality of telephone subscribers in digital form; second means for communicating voice information with at least one of the plurality of telephone subscribers in analog form; and means for communicating said control signal information, wherein said control signal information communication means is characterized in that it communicates the control signal information relating to the operation of the second apparatus in digital form.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
28 words
Apparatus according to claim 28 and also comprising speech compression apparatus associated with said first means for increasing the number of telephone subscribers communicating with said first means.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
69 words
Apparatus according to claim 28 or 29 wherein said subscriber side terminal includes: an analog-digital and a digital data interface; means for coupling at least one first telephone subscriber to said analog-digital and digital data interfaces; digital modem apparatus for coupling said analog-digital and digital data interfaces to said two-wire telephone line; and analog transmission means for coupling at least one second telephone subscriber to said two-wire telephone line.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
79 words
Apparatus according to claim 30 wherein said digital modem apparatus and said analog transmission means are coupled to said two-wire telephone line through a line interface means for matching the impedance of said line, wherein said line interface means comprises at least two impedance elements which are connected serially, a first impedance element for coupling said digital modem apparatus and a second impedance element for coupling said analog transmission means across a portion of said two-wire telephone line impedance.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
71 words
Apparatus according to claim 28 or 29 wherein said exchange side terminal includes: an analog-digital and a digital data interface; means for coupling at least one first telephone exchange subscriber interface to said analog-digital and digital data interfaces; digital modem apparatus for coupling said digital data interface to said two-wire telephone line; and analog transmission means for coupling at least one second telephone exchange subscriber interface to said two-wire telephone line.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
79 words
Apparatus according to claim 32 wherein said digital modem apparatus and said analog transmission means are coupled to said two-wire telephone line through a line interface means for matching the impedance of said line, wherein said line interface means comprises at least two impedance elements which are connected serially, a first impedance element for coupling said digital modem apparatus and a second impedance element for coupling said analog transmission means across a portion of said two-wire telephone line impedance.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
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